What is the difference between autoimmune arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Answers from our Doctors

RheumMD Admin says:

Rheumatoid arthritis is actually a type of autoimmune arthritis. From the International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis: Autoimmune Arthritis refers to autoimmune, inflammatory diseases that heavily involve the joints, but also affect tissues and organs. “Autoimmune Arthritis” is not a classification. It is a term used to describe autoimmune diseases with a high prevalence of arthritis in the disease. There are other types of arthritis that are not degenerative or autoimmune, such as gout. There are also autoimmune diseases that do not include arthritis. Learn more at www.IFAutoimmuneArthritis.org